Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani, speaks with GODWIN ISENYO on a number of national issues including why the forum was against the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, in the recent election

What is your view on the just concluded general elections in the country?

I think there was a kind of improvement over the past elections. Nigerians, who have become more enlightened, helped to change what used to hold sway in the previous elections in which only big names called the shots. In a way, plutocracy and kleptocracy are giving way to democracy that is premised on triple foundation of justice, liberty and decency. Did you see what happened to those who defected from their political parties? There are some states where President Muhammadu Buhari won with a wide margin but the contests for the governorship were a different ball game. In fact, some governors might lose those states in the rerun that arose from the contests. That shows the electorate considered not just political parties but the performance and character of the candidates as well. This is heartening and healthy development for our democracy.



Before the presidential election, the ACF endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress against a fellow northerner and candidate of the Poeples Democrtaic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. What informed this decision?

It is true that it is not the policy and practice of the ACF to endorse party candidates outright. What the forum does is to provide leadership qualities required for purposeful leadership and party manifesto of political parties and performance of candidates. This is to enable voters to make informed judgement during elections. But that does not mean when the need arises, the ACF would not endorse a candidate. You know there is always a deviation from the norm. In the extant case, the forum was of the view that inspite of some shortcomings of the APC, the ruling party, it is still the best for the country in the circumstance; moreso, that the main opposition party (PDP) made restructuring of the country and sale of the government assets its campaign mantra. This is against the fact that this country has undergone different kinds of restructuring, such as political, economic and geographical; and any further restructuring may be unhelpful. And given the fact that the past sale of government assets did not yield the desired results, the forum was not favourably disposed to any further sale of the government assets. Rather, prudent management of national resources should be what matters. After all, Lagos State is being governed under the same structure and form of government which some people believe is not working.

But the ACF had earlier said it had no preferred presidential candidate for the 2019 election. Why did the group make a sudden U-turn?

The outright endorsement of President Buhari was spurred by the need for the regime to consolidate on its performance, against the campaign by the PDP candidate to restructure the country and sell government asset such as the NNPC as well as the character of the parties concerned.

How do you react to the allegation that the ACF was heavily pressured or forced to endorse the President since the PDP candidate was endorsed by some socio-cultural bodies such as the Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Northern Elders Forum, PANDEF and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo?

The ACF was not pressured by anybody or government to endorse President Buhari. The endorsement was done after due consideration of the performance, campaign promises and strength of character of the parties concerned.



Read more at
https://punchng.com/were-against-atiku-for-promising-to-restructure-nigeria-acf-secretary-sani/?fbclid=IwAR2djEZ3TmDjuYwNoZQvCo68wsj4AQM0K7stojnT3D3SMKuJXBf8y-_wM9Q

If you don't know, know it now. Northerners are afraid of restructuring that's why Buhari is swimming along the riptide.

Liar Atiku have no plan to restructure anything.

How we even think this contraption of a country can work with people like these still baffles me. It is like telling a parasite that it's high time it gets separated from its host and you expect it to clap for you? Nigeria is doomed UNLESS restructured. Take it to the BANK!!!

Can you imagine this confession from
Arewa Consultative Forum?

NIGERIA is FINISHED

Even if Atiku had won, he wouldn't make the move.

we all know that's why una vote went to what's that his name again

Restructuring is inevitable. We need to. One day our crude oil value will be like salt. We need to put Nigeria in the right part for our unborn generation

Same thing I told my friend yesterday. Two major reasons the North didn't vote for Atiku were largely due to his promise to restructure Nigeria and to Privatize NNPC. It is glaring that these two proposals make economic sense but due to political parasitism by the North, ethnic bigotry and self-centeredness, they will never allow this country to move forward. Everybody knows of a truth that the present NNPC is just a shadow of itself but some Nigerians hate the truth. I think Atiku should have played Buhari kind of politics - promise heaven and Earth and lie to the North in order to get their votes. Most Nigerians don't like who tells them the truth. That politically nailed Atiku.

The Northern Power House prefer the mess Nigeria is in because they are the first beneficiary of the gross inefficiency of our Constitution and Economy.

Why do you think the almajiri system is still on till 2060? It is all about control of the electorate and the consequent population asset it confers upon them.

When u knew that u wunt survive it if he restructure Nigeria. But u people said u have resources to boost ur states.

We Nigerians have rejected atiku!
Buhari is delivering!
Sai baba
Wailers keep wailing

Nigeria will never be great again, till the world ends. Stop deceiving yourself. Its not a curse but factual. Every time Nigeria has the chance to be great they simply blow that chance up.

First it was during the time of mko abiola, a chance to bring Nigeria to Democratic rule, heal the country from her military injury, it was blown up. Abacha came in and scatter everything.

Secondly, Democracy was giving a second chance finally but the first chance is always still the best. After obj, Yar adua, would have changed the country totally, a man who admitted that the election that brought him in was not free and fair but promised to changed the election laws and process to allow credibility, a non tribalistic and religious man that saw pains in the Niger Delta and brought amnesty and training. That man could have changed things, again Nigeria had the chance to be great, but he died after 2years in office.

Third chance, after yar adua's death, unprepared Jonathan was brought in, he wasted close to 4years either learning from costly mistakes or simply not knowing what to do, when it become apparent for him to sit tight, it became too late for the people out of impatience, but I still believed Jonathan second term in office would have turned things around. Buhari was brought in and disaster followed. Again that chance was blown.

The latest chance Nigeria had to be great again was to vote in atiku. I'm not that a staunch supporter of atiku, most people see him as a thief and looter which he most have observed himself, I think his coming back is to prove people wrong and for people to see a clear differences between his government and that of buhari, again this chance was blown up.

So if u still sitting there an hoping Nigeria will be great some day, I laugh you in egunlanguage o.
Before Nigeria can be great, then 80% of her population must have been educated, I mean well educated o. The politicians know this, hence less funding for education.
The problem with Nigeria and Africa is not corruption, but tribalism and religion, kill that and watch their Children corruption, nepotism, hate speech etc die a natural death.

Are you still wondering why the country is where we are today; northerners are allergic to every good things from education to immunisation to restructuring to extremism to everything bad..

Drift of Swines

Osagyefo98:
Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani, speaks with GODWIN ISENYO on a number of national issues including why the forum was against the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, in the recent election

What is your view on the just concluded general elections in the country?

I think there was a kind of improvement over the past elections. Nigerians, who have become more enlightened, helped to change what used to hold sway in the previous elections in which only big names called the shots. In a way, plutocracy and kleptocracy are giving way to democracy that is premised on triple foundation of justice, liberty and decency. Did you see what happened to those who defected from their political parties? There are some states where President Muhammadu Buhari won with a wide margin but the contests for the governorship were a different ball game. In fact, some governors might lose those states in the rerun that arose from the contests. That shows the electorate considered not just political parties but the performance and character of the candidates as well. This is heartening and healthy development for our democracy.



Before the presidential election, the ACF endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress against a fellow northerner and candidate of the Poeples Democrtaic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. What informed this decision?

It is true that it is not the policy and practice of the ACF to endorse party candidates outright. What the forum does is to provide leadership qualities required for purposeful leadership and party manifesto of political parties and performance of candidates. This is to enable voters to make informed judgement during elections. But that does not mean when the need arises, the ACF would not endorse a candidate. You know there is always a deviation from the norm. In the extant case, the forum was of the view that inspite of some shortcomings of the APC, the ruling party, it is still the best for the country in the circumstance; moreso, that the main opposition party (PDP) made restructuring of the country and sale of the government assets its campaign mantra. This is against the fact that this country has undergone different kinds of restructuring, such as political, economic and geographical; and any further restructuring may be unhelpful. And given the fact that the past sale of government assets did not yield the desired results, the forum was not favourably disposed to any further sale of the government assets. Rather, prudent management of national resources should be what matters. After all, Lagos State is being governed under the same structure and form of government which some people believe is not working.

But the ACF had earlier said it had no preferred presidential candidate for the 2019 election. Why did the group make a sudden U-turn?

The outright endorsement of President Buhari was spurred by the need for the regime to consolidate on its performance, against the campaign by the PDP candidate to restructure the country and sell government asset such as the NNPC as well as the character of the parties concerned.

How do you react to the allegation that the ACF was heavily pressured or forced to endorse the President since the PDP candidate was endorsed by some socio-cultural bodies such as the Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Northern Elders Forum, PANDEF and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo?

The ACF was not pressured by anybody or government to endorse President Buhari. The endorsement was done after due consideration of the performance, campaign promises and strength of character of the parties concerned.



Read more at
https://punchng.com/were-against-atiku-for-promising-to-restructure-nigeria-acf-secretary-sani/?fbclid=IwAR2djEZ3TmDjuYwNoZQvCo68wsj4AQM0K7stojnT3D3SMKuJXBf8y-_wM9Q

He is right i was very surprised how the north was able to VOTE for candidate of their choice this time around.It used to be one way in the past

Bloooody:
We Nigerians have rejected atiku!
Buhari is delivering!
Sai baba
Wailers keep wailing

Sounds more like we the association of the lifeless zombies

Enjoy ur Nigeria then...the home of poverty, corruption, unemployment and insecurity.

So these idiots are now openly saying Nigerians are fools that doesn't know it's right from its left

north is the problem of Nigeria. how did i end up in same country with these clowns

We Nigerians!


We Nigerians often suffer the consequences of the things we didn't do than the things we did.
We can't fold our arms and be complaining about how things aren't changing, we must assume our civic duties without being told.
Be the Change you desire in Nigeria.
Nigerians are the change we demand for in Nigeria, not the roads and buildings.
Nigerians must Understand what Life is all about.
Developing Nigerians Psychology should be the Primary Goal. Roads, Bridges, etc are Secondary.
When Nigerians are living with Enlightenment, development will be automatic.
We must decide individually to live honestly as a Patriotic Nigerian without trying to be superficial.
When Nigerians lives are changing individually, then it can be said that Nigeria is changing & developing.
Nigerians are the elements of Analysis when we are to rate Nigeria.
We Nigerians needs to start seeing things from another perceptive so a massive change can reflect in Reality.
We Nigerians must be Proactive and not Reactive.
We all have what it takes to succeed, we just need to develop and mine this qualities from deep within.

I will Live to Behold a Great Nigeria. Acclaim the same if you believe.

God Bless Nigeria.
God Bless Nigerians.


@ItsMeSunnySky

Though I knw Atiku was not going to restructure Nigeria. But why are northerns scared of a restructured Nigeria.

Hahahahaha atiku played ball to throwing. With FAAC poverty rife for north. Now u wan restructure na over poverty o. Where will all those emirs and govs see free money

Must the north always draw Nigeria backwards? Every sane person knows this nation is going nowhere the way it is presently structured. Regions need to be able to harness their potentials and grow at their own pace. And, that can't happen under this present arrangement.

The north's fear of restructuring is absurd.